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Quiet-Step Treads
Quiet-Step Treads
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type:
Footwear; stealth utility
rarity:
uncommon
material:
split-grain leather; felt pads; cork midsole; kelp-resin seal
weight:
480–640 g (pair)
origin:
legality:
Gray-market in docks; restricted near bonded piers
features:
noise-dampening sole; siped grip; water-shedding welt
Quiet-Step Treads is a soft-soled boot set optimized for silent movement on wet cobbles, planks, and iron grating around Vesper Quay. It is common among runners aligned with the Gutter Syndic and occasionally seen as muted-issue footwear on audits by the Silver Ledger near the Counting House. Crews favor the treads for approach work along the arches and quay alleys.
Description
- Construction: Low-ankle or mid-ankle leather uppers stitched to a cork midsole with layered felt pads under a thin rubberized tread.
- Sole Pattern: Siped channels and scalloped edges reduce slap and disperse water; heel carries a removable hush insert.
- Welt/Seal: Kelp-resin bead along the welt resists salt and mutes creak; seam tape under the tongue blocks grit.
- Lacing: Flat cotton laces with waxed tips; side gusset for fast slip-in; eyelets set to avoid ring-click on steps.
- Interior: Thin wool liner over a charcoal insole that masks heat and light damp odors after runs.
- Tell-tales: Dark pad edges polish shiny with age; toe scuffs show fine felt hairs at the lip.
Type / Category
- Category: Footwear; stealth utility; light-duty work boot.
- Users: Dock runners, lookouts, and cutouts moving through the Gutter Syndic; select wardens from the Silver Ledger during low-noise audits at the Counting House.
Stats / Effects
- Noise Dampening: Reduces footfall noise on stone/wood/metal; advantage on stealth checks involving movement on hard surfaces.
- Slick Grip: +1–+2 situational bonus to balance on wet cobbles and pier planks, especially around the Slickstone Arches.
- Water Shed: Keeps feet dry for ~1 hour in shallow wash; penalties resume when pads are fully saturated.
- Imprint Masking: Felt pad pattern blurs track identity; checks to trace footprints suffer disadvantage unless lifted within minutes.
- Hush Insert: Once per short operation, engage heel insert to negate one accidental scuff or squeak.
- Drawbacks: Pads wear fast on rough grit; movement speed reduced by a small step when fully waterlogged; fire/acid degrade resin seal.
Usage / Crafting / Requirements
- Field Use: Shorter strides, toe-first landings; avoid sliding stops that shear pads; dry over warm air, not open flame.
- Maintenance: Re-wax seams with Salt-Slick Kelp resin; replace felt pads after heavy runs; scrape grit from siping with a dull pick.
- Crafting (standard):
- Materials: Split-grain leather, cork sheet, felt pads, thin rubberized tread, kelp-resin sealant, cotton laces.
- Steps: Cut and stitch uppers; cement cork midsole; channel and glue felt layer; apply rubberized skin; siping cuts; resin the welt; cure low-heat.
- Restrictions: Possession near bonded piers draws fines from a Hall Guard; registered audit pairs for wardens under Ilex Marr are stamped inside the tongue.
- Synergy: Combines well with a Smoke Ampoule during breakaways and a Glasswire Dagger for snag-free carry.
Lore / Background
- Underdock Origin: Early versions were cut from sail felt and net cork by stall cobblers under the bridges of the Gutter Syndic.
- Lantern Truce Era: Quiet footwear saw wider adoption when nightly chases near the Counting House escalated fines for public disturbance.
- Counterfeits: Plain felt slippers circulate but lack siping and resin bead; these are easy for a Hall Guard to spot at checkpoints in Vesper Quay.
- Guild Variant: The Ledger’s muted-issue “audit softs” trade some stealth for durability and are logged alongside a Lockplate Key.
Image Gallery
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A pair of Quiet-Step Treads drying above a sump grate in the underdock stalls
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A female runner ghosting along bridge planks near the Lantern Docks
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A male warden inspecting muted-issue boots during an audit kit check
Related Characters / Mobs / Scenes
Variants
- Canal Pads: Ultra-soft indoor style with oversized felt slabs for warehouse rafters; best noise profile, poor durability outdoors.
- Audit Softs: Ledger-stamped version for inspections at the Counting House; thicker tread, slightly louder but longer wear.
- Gutter-Cut Flats: Low-profile slipper made in stalls around the Gutter Syndic; cheapest, replace often.